Part 1: Chapters 27, 28, and 29 Summary

Stanley continues working with less water than usual since Mr. Sir continues to pour his share of the water onto the ground. Mr. Pendanski, though, gives Stanley extra because he knows what is happening. Stanley's situation is improved because Zero is digging an hour every day for him, but this fact makes the other boys mad. The boys try to pull the race card, saying that it's always true that a black kid like Zero works for a white kid like Stanley. The group says that it doesn't matter that Stanley took the blame; it was his fault for spilling them. Mr. Sir finally fills Stanley's canteen, but he goes into the cab of the truck to do so, and Stanley never drinks from it, pouring it on the ground instead, because he's afraid of what Mr. Sir has...